Chill & Spill "Bridges" activity

As a student, Kelsey Field took Chill & Spill to Chile several years ago when she worked at a refuge for pregnant teens. In Guatemala, when a girl gets pregnant out of wedlock, they are put out in the streets. This refuge was created to take them in, care for them and teach them skills so they can make it on their own.

Now Kelsey is in Guatemala, working with approximately 500 students. She assigns “Chill & Spill” activities as as homework. As a result, some of her students have begun trusting and opening up to her.

Says Kelsey, “They are sharing their stories with me, and more importantly their dreams for the future. A lot of times here the students just don’t have hopes for the future, because the poverty where we are is overwhelming. I feel like, for the first time, because of the Chill & Spill book, they are thinking outside of just getting married, having kids and farming…”

In this blog post are some of the student’s artwork that Kelsey shared with us (NOTE: all of my translations are very rough…if anyone can translate better, please let me know!).

Another student's "Bridges" interpretation

The student’s artwork, right middle, was inspired by the “Bridges” activity. On the left side of the page, she writes, “It is difficult to start living spontaneously because there are problems to overcoming problems.” In the stream below the bridge, the student lists difficulties such as “the lack of financial resources, school work, hard sacrifices, and huge bad friendships and other bad people – negative things that I continue to explore.” On the right side of the page, near the victorious figure, she writes, “When I arrive at the finish line, I am strong, the most majestic and friendly. Here is where the happiness is the fruit of our efforts.”

Another piece she shared with us is also from the “Bridges” activity. On the bridge itself, the student writes, “We must strive to achieve what we want.” Under the bridge, in the turbulent water, she writes about things she is trying to overcome, such as Discrimination, Poverty, Work, Bad Habits, Problems. On the left side of the bridge (where she wants to get t0), the student repeats the thought that she must work hard to get to where she wants to be, but adds, “Nevertheless, there are things that happen, difficulties we must face,” and “to reach a goal is to achieve a great dream.” The last illustration depicts the students life goals, which include “tener buenos amigos” (To have good friends), “tener fé” (to have faith),  “No mas pobresa” (to not to be poor anymore), “no mas delincuencia” (to not be in trouble anymore)…

Tags: Chill & Spill